Cyclometer



' (Ne Medel.) 4 sheetsheee 1.

E. G. DORC'HBSTER.

CYCLOMETBR.

Ne.v 599,929. Peteeted ,ebg 1999.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. G. BORG-BESTER.

GYGLUMETER. 190.599,320. Patented Feb. 22,1898.

(No Model) 4 Sheets Sheet 3. E. G. DORCHESTER.

GYGLOMETER.

N0.'599.320. Patented Peb. 22,1898.

m: Noam sans coJwwumm mwwamx n c (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. E. G. DORCHESTER.

l GYGLOMETEP.. No. 599,320. Patented Feb. 22, 1898.

gli 3716 .gg/12 P- it Tw Wi? 71111111-11lzl UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

EDVARD G. DOROHESTER, OF GENEVA, NEW YORK.

CYCLOMETER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,320, dated February 2v2, 1898.

Application tiled January 21, 1897. Serial No. 620,085. (No model.)

Geneva, inthe county of Ontario and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Oyclometer, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cyclometers, and has for its object to provide a device of this class having means for registering distances traversed by a wheeled vehicle in short or daily trips, which may be termed a tripregister, and also to provide mechanism 0perated by the same means as the trip-register for making a continuous record of the entire distance traversed up to, say, ten thousand miles and which may for convenience be termed a total register, and to provide simple and efficient means for communicating motion from the star or operating wheel to the various registering devices, and in connection therewith to provide means for setting7 the trip-registering device to indicate zero.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a cyclometer constructed in accordance with my invention applied in the operative position to a vehicle-wheel, a portion of the wheel and frame being indicated. Fig. 2 is a central sectional view taken parallel with and in the plane of the operating-shaft. Figs. 3, 4, 5, t', 7, 8, and 9 are transverse sectional views taken, respectively, upon the planes indicated by the lines 3 3, 4 a, 5 5, 6 6, 7 7, 8 8, and 9 9 of Fig. 2. Fig. l0 is an inner side vien7 of the casing to show the star or operating wheel. Fig. 11 is a view of the trip-registering rings detached. Fig. 12 is a sectional View of the trip-registering rings to illustrate the racks whereby motion is communicated from each ring of lower denomination to that of higher denomination. Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the bearing-frame detached. Fig. 14 is a detail section of the means for communicating mot-ion from one of the trip-registering rings to the next. Fig. 15 is a detail view of one of the motion-conveying pinions detached. Fig. 16 is a sectional view of the same on the line 16 16 of Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is a view, partly in section, of a stud or stub-shaft upon which the motion-conveying pinions are mounted. Fig. 18 is a detail view in perspective of the main registering spindle and contiguous parts detached. Fig. 19 is a detail sectional view on the line 19 19 of Fig. 7 to show the means for communicating backward motion from one registering-ring to the other in assemblin g or returning the latter to Zero. Fig. 20is a detail view in perspective of the bracket by which the case of the cyclorneter is supported. Fig. 2l is a detail sectional view of the means for adjusting the cyclometencase upon said bracket. Fig. 22 is a detail view in perspective of the button or trip which is carried by the wheel of the vehicle to actuate the star-wheel. Fig. 23 is a detail sectional view of the same.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a casing having a closed back 2 and a removable face-plate 3, secured in place by means of a removable collar 4., said face-plate being provided with a plurality of inspection-openings 5, 6, 7, and S, adapted, respectively, for exposing the numerals of units, tens, hundreds, and thousands disks, respectively and numbered 5, G, 7, and S. A suitable transparent guard 9, of glass, mica, or equivalent material, may be interposed between the inturned flange of the collar a and the exterior surface of the faceplate to exclude dust from the interior of the casing.

Arranged within the casing is a cylindrical bearing-frame 10, provided at its outer end with a lateral iiange 11, having spaced lugs 12 to fit in corresponding notches 13 in the front edgeof the casing and held in place -by means of the above-described collar. This bearing e frame is also provided in spaced planes with lugs 14. and 15, against which, within the frame, are arranged transverse partitions 16 and 17, held in place by connecting-screws 16a, the partition 17 being provided with a thimble 18, which extends inwardly or .rearwardly through the wall 2 of the casing, (see Fig. 2,) and is adapted, as

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hereinafter described, to form at its exterior surface a journal and at its interior surface a bearing.

Mountedin the bearing formed by the thimble 18 and in an alined bearing 19 in the partition 16 is an operating-shaft 20, to the rear extremity of which is secured a star-wheel 21, adapted to be engaged bya button 22 or similar projection carried by the wheel of a vehicle. The button, which is illustrated in the drawings, comprises relatively adjustable plates 23 and 24, constituting a clamp and connected by a set-screw 25, by which they may be drawn toward each other to engage .means of a suitable key 39.

the spoke 26 of the wheel, the main plate 23 being provided with a pin 27, upon which is mounted an antifriction-sleeve 28.

The operating-shaft 2O carries a worm 29, engaging a worm-gear 30 on an upright counter shaft 31, said shaft being terminally mounted in upper and lower bearings formed by ears 32, projecting forwardly from the partition 17. The shaft 31 also carries a worm 33, meshing with a Worm-gear 34, which is permanently secured to the main registeringspindle 35, mounted in alined bearings in the partitions 16 and 17 and disposed parallel with the operating-shaft. This main registering-spindle extends to and through the front face-plate of the casing and is provided with an index 36 to traverse a fractions-dial 37, formed in a contiguous countersunk portion of the face-plate, and also keyed to said spindle contiguous to the plane of the partition 16 is a single-toothed transmitting-gear 38, (see Fig. 18,) preferably secured against independent rotation upon the spindle by This gear is provided with a smooth periphery, with the eX- ception of the single tooth 40, which is adapted to engage with a ten-notched receiving-wheel 41, mounted upon a stub-shaft 42, supported by the partition 16. The receiving-gear is provided with concave seats 43 between its notches, into which the periphery of the transmitting-gear fits to prevent accidental movement of the receivinggear. It is obvious that when the single tooth of the transmitting-gear approaches the periphery of the receiving-gear to engage one of the notches of the latter the receiving-gear is released a sufiicient length of time to allow the transmitting-gear to advance the receiving-gear a distance equal to the interval between contiguous notches of the receivinggear, or onetenth of its circumference. 42, the receiving-gear 41, a sleeve 44, iitted upon the stub-shaft and carrying said receiving-gear, and the number-disk 5,of which the numerals are adapted to be exposed successively through the inspection-opening 5, constitute the units-registering mechanism. A transmitting-gear 45, havinga single tooth, is also fixed to the sleeve 44 and is adapted to communicate motion to a receiving-gear 46, secured to a sleeve 47, mounted upon the registering-spindle 35, said sleeve carrying a The stub-shaft number-disk 63, said parts constituting the I tens-registering mechanism. The sleeve 47 carries a single-toothed transmitting-gear 48 for communicating motion to a receiving-gear 49, xed to a sleeve 50, mounted upon a stubshaft 51, also supported by the partition 16, said sleeve 50 supporting the number-disk 7, of which the numerals are adapted to be exposed through an opening 7, thus constituting the hundreds-registering mechanism. The sleeve 50 also carries a single-toothed transmitting-gear 52, adapted to communicate motion to a receiving-gear 53, having a sleeve 54 mounted upon a stub-shaft 55, supported by the partition 16, this sleeve also carrying the number-disk 8, of which the numerals are adapted to be exposed through the opening 8, thus constituting the thousands-registering device.

Affixed to the rear end of the main registering-spindle within the casing and contiguous to the plane of the partition 17 is a transmitting-pinion 56, which meshes with a pinion 57, mounted upon the journal formed by the exterior surface of the thimble 18, said pinion 57 carrying a ratchet-gear 58, which operates contiguous to the rear wall of the casing.

In the cylindrical side wall of the casing, and preferably at such a point as to be visible from the seat of the vehicle, is an inspection-opening 59, covered by a transparent guard 60, of glass or mica, and operatin g within view through this inspection-opening 59 is a series of trip-registerin g rings 61, 62, and 63. These rings may for convenience be termed fractional, units, and tens rings, and they are journaled upon the exterior surface of the bearing-frame l0, the fractional ring being provided with one or more spring-tongues 64, (see Fig. 5,) which terminally engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 58 and are adapted to communicate motion from said ratchetwheel to the fractional ring. The units and tens rings are provided at'their rear edges with continuous receiving-racks 65 and 66, with which mesh pinions 67 and 68, mounted on a stub-shaft 67a, and the fractions and units rings are provided with segmental or mutilated transmitting-racks 69 and 70, which are adapted to mesh with the pinions 67 and 68 at intervals, and thereby respectively communicate motion to the units and tens rings. In order to prevent accidental movement of the pinions, as by jarring, they are provided with angular hubs 7l, in contact with which are arranged retaining or brake springs 72. I

The construction and relative arrangement of the members of the gearing or the means for communicating motion from one part to another are such that the ratchet-Wheel 58 renders one complete revolution for each unit of measurement, as one mile, thus causing the fractions-ring 61 to make a complete revolution in the same distance. At the end of each complete revolution of the fractions-ring IOO IIO

motion is communicated through the pinion 67 to the units-ring 62, andas the latter is preferably provided with ten units and is adapted to be turned through one complete revolution in ten miles the segmental or mutilated rack 70 thereof is adapted to communicate a step-by-step movement to the tens-ring 63 at intervals of ten miles.

It is desirable to construct the trip-registering mechanism in such a wayas to enable it to be turned back or to have its members assembled to indicate zero, and hence I have shown the rings of higher denomination (in this instance the units and tens rings) provided in their rear edges with shallow channels 73, each being provided at a suitable point with a shoulder or offset 74 for engagement by an assembling-spring 75, carried by the adjacent ring of lower denomination. I have also provided the hub of the pinion 68 with an extension terminating in a key-seat 76, adapted to receive the extremity of a key 77, whereby rotary motion may be communicated through the pinion GS to the ring 63. IVhen the Zero of the ring 63 comes opposite the zero of the ring 62, the shoulder or offset 74 of the ring 63 engages the spring 75 of the ring 2, and hence motion is communicated simultaneously to both rings. In the same way when the zeros of the rings 63 and 62 come opposite the zero of the fractions-ring 6l the parts will be interlocked and all will turn simultaneously to bring the zeros into view through the inspection-opening 59.

The bracket 78, which I preferably employ for supporting the casing of the cyclometer, is provided with a transverse guide 79, in which is fitted the slide SO on the lower side of the casing. This slide or shoe is provided with an inclined flange 8l at one side and a threaded lip 82 at the other' side for engagement by a feed-screw S3, which is terminally mounted by means of journal portions S4 and S5 in a half-sleeve 86 at one side of the guide. By turning the feed-screw the lateral position of the casing may be varied with relation to the plane of the wheel, whereby when not required for use the casing may be moved to such a point as to remove the star-wheel out of the path of the button 22. Said bracket is also preferably provided with an arm S7, terminating in a lamp support or clip SS.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing' any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is l. In a cyclometer, the combination with a casing and an operating-shaft, of a plurality of parallel coaxially mounted registeringrings exposed at contiguous points, the ring of lowest denomination being operatively connected with said shaft to receive forward rotary movement therefrom, and connections between the rings, including continuous racks on the rings of higher denomination, contiguous segmental or mutilated racks on the rings of lower denomination, and pinions, each arranged in operative relation with the mutilated rack of one ring and a continuous rack of the contiguous ring, the pinion which meshes with the continuous rack of the ring of highest denomination having means whereby backward rotation may be manually imparted thereto, and means for communicating backward rotation from a ring of higher to the next of lower denomination, substantially as specified.

2. In a cyclometer, the combination with a casing and an operating-shaft, of parallel registering-rings exposed at a common point, the ring of lowest denomination being operatively connected with said shaft, means for communicating motion from one ring to the next of higher denomination including continuous racks on the rings of higher denomination, contiguous mutilated racks on the rings of lower denomination, and pinions each meshing with the continuous rack of one ring and the mutilated rack of the contiguous ring of lower denomination, and springs carried by each ring of lower denomination to engage shoulders or projections on the contiguous ring of higher denomination, and adapted to communicate backward rotation from the ring of higher to the next of lower denomination, the pinion which is in mesh with the continuous rack of the ring of highest denomination having a key-seat for engagement by an exteriorly-applied key, whereby the rings may be reset, substantially as specified.

3. In a cyclometer, the combination with a casing having an open front side, and a removable face-plate provided with inspectionopenings, an operating-shaft mounted in the casing, an annular bearing-frame removably fitted in and having a sliding connection with the casing, and Iheld in place against sliding movement by means of said face-plate, longdistance-registering devices inclosed within the bearing-frame, having disks exposed at openings in the face-plate, and operatively connected with .said shaft, registering-rings mounted upon the exterior surface of the bearingframe and exposed at contiguous points through an opening in the side wall of the casing, connections between the ring of lowest denomination and said shaft, and means for communicating motion from each ring of lower to the next of higher denomination, substantially as specified.

4. In a cyclometer, the combination with a casing having an open front side fitted with a removable face-plate provided with inspection-openings, an operating-shaft, a removable annular bearing-frame fit-ted in and having a sliding connection with the casing by means of lugs l2 fitting in seats in the wall of the casing, and adapted to be locked in said seats against sliding movement by means of the face-plate, long-distance-registering de- IOC) IIO

vices inclosed within the bearing-frame, having disks exposed at the openings in the faceplate of the casing, and operatively connected with said shaft, registering-rings mounted on the exterior surface of the bearing-frame and exposed at contiguous points through an opening in the wall of the casing, and operating devices for said rings, substantially as specified.

5. In a cyclometer, the combination with a casing and an operating-shaft mounted therein, the casing being provided in its front and side walls with inspection-openings, annular trip-registering devices exposed at the openings in the side Wall of the casing and longdistance-registering devices inclosed by the annular trip-registering devices for exposure through the openings in the front wall of the casing, said registering devices being operatively connected with said shaft for simultaneous movement, and means for resetting or assembling the members of the trip-registering mechanism without affecting the long-distance-registeringmechanism, substantially as specilied.

6. In a cyclometer, the combination with a cylindrical casing and an operating shaft mounted therein, the casing being provided in its front and side walls with inspectionopenings, of an annular bearing-frame arranged within and connected with the casing, long distance registering devices inclosed within the bearing-frame having disks exposed at the openings in the front wall of the casing and operatively connected with said shaft, trip-registering rings mounted exteriorly upon said bearing-frame for exposure through the openings in the side Wall of the casing, and operatively connected with said shaft, and exterior means for resetting or assembling the members of the trip-registering mechanism, substantially as specified.

7. ln a cyclometer, the combination of a casing having an open front side, a removable face-plate, a flanged collar engaging the side wall of the casing to secure the face-plate in place, a bearing-frame tted Within the casing and having projecting lugs engaging seats or notches in the side walls of the casing, the open front ends Vof said seats or notches being closed by the face-plate, an operating-shaft mounted in the casing, longdistance-registering devices mounted within said bearing-frame and opera-tively connected with the said shaft, and trip-registering mechanism mounted exteriorly upon the bearingframe, exposed through a side opening in the casing and operatively connected with said shaft, substantially as specied.

8. In a cyclometer, the combination with a casing and an operating-shaft, of an annular bearing-frame arranged within the casing, long distance-registering devices inclosed Within the bearing-frame in operative connection with said shaft and having disks exposed through openings in the front wall of the casing, trip-registerin g rings mounted exteriorly upon said bearing-frame and operatively connected with said shaft, connections between the rings including continuous and mutilated racks respectively on the rings of higher and lower denomination, and pinions engaging the continuous rack of one ring and the contiguous mutilated rack of the adjacent ring, said pinions having angular hubs, brake-sprin gs arranged in permanent engagement with the hubs of the pinions, and means adapted to be manually operated, for communicating backward rotation to the pinion which is in engagement with the continuous rack of the ring of highest denomination, substantially as specified.

9. In a cyclometer, the combination with a casing and an operating-shaft mounted therein, the casing having a removable front wall provided with inspection-openings, of an annular bearing-frame removably fitted in the casing, parallel front and rear partitions arranged transversely within the bearing-frame,

a registering-spindle mounted in bearings in said partitions and carrying a fixed transmitting-gear and an exposed index, an intermediate or counter shaft mounted upon and parallel with the rear partition for communieating motion from the operating-shaft to said spindle, a plurality of stub-shafts carried by the front partition and projecting toward the frontwall of the casing, registering-disks having their sleeves mounted respectively upon said stub-shafts and the registering-spindle and exposed respectively through said inspection-openin gs in the front wall,and means for communicating motion from the registering-spindle to the disk of lowest denomination and from each disk of lower to the next of higher denomination, substantially as specifled.

10. In a cyclometer, the combination of a casing provided with front and side inspection-openings, an operating-shaft mounted axially in the casing, a registering-spindle mounted parallel with the shaft and having a fractions-index traversing a dial on the front wall,long-distance-registering devices including disks exposed respectively through the inspection-openings in the front Wall, the disk of lowest denomination being operatively connected with said spindle,and the disks of lower denomination being operatively connected respectively with contiguous disks of higher denomination, a plurality of registering-rings mounted upon a bearing encircling and concentric with said operating-shaft and exposed through the inspection-opening in the side wall of the casing, a ratchet-wheel mounted concentrically with said shaft and connected for simultaneous movement by intermediate gearing with the registering-spindle, Springs carried by the registering-ring of lowest denomination to en gage the teeth of said ratchet- Wheel and adapted to slip idly thereover when reverse motion is imparted to the ring, means for communicating motion from each ring to the next of higher denomination, assembling devices for communicating motion from each IOO IIO

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ring to the next of lower denomination when reverse motion is imparted thereto, and setting devices for communicating backward motion to the ring of highest denomination, substantially as specified.

ll. In a cyclorneter, the combination with registering devices inclosed in a casing, of a bracket having a transverse seat or guide, a slide attached to said casing and fitted in the guide, and a feed-screw mounted in the guide and engaging the slide to advance the casing toward or from the plane of a vehicle-Wheel, substantially as specified.

l2. In a cyclometer, the combination with registering devices inclosed in the casing, of a bracket having a transverse dovetailed guide provided at one side with a shield having terminal half-bearings, a slide attached to the casing and itted in the guide, said slide being provided at one side with a threaded half-sleeve, and a feed-screw having journal portions mounted in the bearings at the extremities of said shield and engaging the halfsleeve of the slide to advance the casing toward or from the plane of a vehicle-Wheel, substantially as specified.

13. As a new article of manufacture, a combined lamp and cyclometer bracket provided with means for attachment to a vehicle-frame, and havin gindependent attaching devices for a lamp and a cyclometer, the former consisting of a fixed ear 88, and the latter including a slide, and adjusting devices for varying the position of the slide, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

EDWARD G. DORCHESTER.

Witnesses:

T. W. HARFORD, M. E. FOLEY. 

